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Five Things We Learned From Bliss' Second Practice

By: Adam Jardy

The Columbus Dispatch - September 04, 2013 11:04 AM

Five things we learned from the first day of open training since Brian Bliss was named the Crew’s
interim coach.

1. Jairo Arrieta is falling out of favor.Yesterday, Bliss confirmed what was obvious by Arrieta’s presence at training: he had not
been called up to the Costa Rican national team for the upcoming stretch of World Cup qualifiers.
Arrieta has made 11 appearances for Costa Rica this year and has scored four goals, which are
better numbers than the ones he has put up for the Crew.

Arrieta has only two goals in 18 appearances this year and has scored just one of them in his
last 16 appearances. His recent form with the Crew has made him fall out of favor with the national
team, and he was informed last Friday that he would not be called up.

“It’s not that he’s not trying; he’s just been snakebitten,” Bliss said of Arrieta. “He can’t
find the back of the net and Dominic (Oduro) as well. That’s the toughest thing in a game is to
score a goal. That’s why those guys get paid as much money as they do, but it’s not a lack of
trying or a lack of tactical understanding. He just needs to get on track.

“Hopefully it’s a motivator that he wants to get back with his national team and the way he does
it is by good play and scoring goals and he’s going to get those opportunities. He’s just going to
have to convert.”

2. None of the players knew Robert Warzycha would be fired until Monday morning.Several sources had told me the same throughout the weekend, but the players confirmed that
this afternoon.

“I came in yesterday a little bit early to do my rehab stuff and sort of caught wind of it a
little bit early so I had a little bit more time to digest than most guys,” goalkeeper Andy
Gruenebaum said. “It’s just sad. It’s hard to swallow, but it’s part of the business.”

3. Andy Gruenebaum is progressing in his return from a shoulder injury.“It’s getting stronger every day with the rehab we’re doing,” he said. “(The training staff)
has done a great job getting me there. Some of the exercises I’ll complain about but that’s because
it’s working. Those guys, they know what they’re doing and they’re there for a reason. I’m just
trusting in it and it’s responding.”

Is there a timetable for his return?

“I don’t have necessarily a date,” he said. “I think I’m meeting with the doc (Wednesday) so we’r
e hoping to continue to just improve with strength and flexibility. I’ve been doing a lot of
handling lately so the arm is responding quickly. I’m happy with where I’m at and hopefully I’ll
get the green light to start hitting the ground soon.”

4. At least publicly, the players are also taking responsibility for Warzycha’s
failures.“Basically the whole situation, we as players have to be held responsible as well because he
puts out a lineup and we’ve got to perform,” Gruenebaum said. “I feel just as responsible.”

Added Danny O’Rourke: “It’s always a difficult time for the club. Everyone knows Robert loved
the club, but it’s a result-based business and all of us as a whole haven’t been getting the job
done this year or the past couple of years. A change happens. It’s normal in professional sports.
We have to get things back on track, and there’s no doubt we will. I think we’ve been through a
certain phase like this too when Sigi took over. It took a while to get accustomed to it but we’re
professionals and it’s our jobs.”

5. Wil Trapp isn’t a Star Wars buff.When the Crew rookie lined up a corner kick Saturday in front of the Nordecke, the section
chanted out “It’s a trap(p)!” in perfect unison. The player himself said he did not understand the
chant.

“I didn’t really get the reference,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve seen the movies; I’m just not
that big into it.

“It’s hard not to hear them when they’re right on top of you. It’s kind of funny. Maybe they
could find a new one. It’s not the best.”